Chain conveyor



March 18, 1947. K. F. WRANGELL CHAIN CONVEYOR Filed June 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I (Fman eZZ 13y 4415 March 18, 1947. K. F. WRANGELL I CHAIN CONVEYOR Filed June 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIN CONVEYOR Application June 1, 1945, Serial No. 597,109

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conveyors, and more particularly to endless conveyor chains.

The use of conveyor chains having fixed spurs or lugs thereon to engage and convey material on the outgoing or top strands of the chain, which usually runs in a channel or trough, is well known. The incoming or bottom strand of the chain does not do useful work but in this idle area the chain is subjected to its greatest wear caused by frictional contact with the supporting means provided for this usually long idle strand. Idler sprockets are frequently provided to support the strand and these and the strand itself are sub- .iected to excessive wear due largely to the unavoidable slackness in this idle strand and the difilculty of providing adequate lubrication. Rails which provide a running surface for the chain links while permitting the spurs or lugs thereon to extend downwardly on either side thereof have also been employed, but these also result in considerable wear both on the chain links and the rail due to the difficulty of providing adequate lubrication on the wearing surface. A channel is not provided for the bottom strand since the extremities of the fixed spurs or lugs would ride thereon and rapidly destroy the lugs and channel.

It is an object of this invention to provide an endless conveyor chain of the spur or lug type wherein work may be performed by the incoming or bottom strand, as well as the outgoing or top strand, and wherein lubrication of the bottom strand may be readily provided with resultant reduction in wear on the chain and supporting surfaces.

To this end the invention contemplates the provision of a chain having pivotally mounted lugs or spurs thereon and means for changing the position of such lugs on the return journey of the chain whereby work may be performed on such return journey and/or wear on the running surfaces is substantially reduced.

The invention will be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of a chain in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the chain and conveying lug,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the chain and conveying lugs,

Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic side and end elevations of a usual type of conveyor structure,

Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic side and end elevations of a conveyor structure in accordance with the invention, and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a 2 modified conveyor structure in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing, I is an endless chain comprising the usual links 2 connected by pins 3. A plurality of attachments 4 each having an upwardly extending portion 5 adapted to engage the material to be conveyed are pivotally mounted at one endthereof on either side of the chain. As shown, this pivotal mounting is conveniently made on the ends of pins 3, although it will be understood that independent pivotal mountings may be provided on the chain links. The other ends of the attachments 4 have limited swinging movement with respect to the chain by means of arcuate slots 6 which engage the ends of adjacent pins 3.

It will be observed that, as shown in Figure l, the radial distance between the pivot of the attachment and .the arcuate guideB is equal to the chain pitch.

Referring to Figure 1, 1 is a sprocket on which the end of the conveyor may be supported, and 8 is a curved guide plate positioned below the, sprocket and adapted to engage the extremities of the attachments 4 as the chain enters its bottom strand and swing the same upwardly into working position whereby the chain links may engage a plane running surface 9 for the bottom strand.

Any suitable means maybe provided to secure the attachments 4 in place on the chain. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a simple and, effective means for this purpose. Such means comprises a rod Hi, the ends of which extend through the outer ends of the adjacent pins 3 supporting the attachments. One end of the rod is peened about the pin 3 as shown at H. The work engaging face of the attachment may be thickened as shown at I2. 7

The attachments 4 have a loose or "sloppy fit with respect to the pins 3 and links 2 to ensure ease of swinging movement. It will be observed that these attachments are free from chain tension and strain. Thus, they do not require accurate machining and may be made in any suitable manner, as by fabricated steel'or malleable casting. Moreover the attachments are readily exchangeable and may 'be applied to existing chains by substituting longer link pins for those in use. In order to lessen frictional'engagement between the surfaces of the attachments andthe chain links, the attachment may be provided with raised surfaces l3 of restricted area adjacent the pins 3. 1

Figure 3 also illustrates a preferable location outside bars which would interfere with the proper functioning of the attachments.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example a usual type of conveyor chain arrangement utilized for conveying logs to a stock pile in a pulp mill. In this instance, the top strand 16 of the conveyor chain H runs in a channel (8 located in a trough I9, while the bottom strand (6' is supported on sprockets 2U.

Due to the see-saw action of the relatively loose chain arcs, which incidentally constitute a hazard to operators, much wear will occur on the surfaces of the chain contacting with the sprockets. barrels with the side bars travelling on either side of the sprockets and free from wearing contact. The top strand is readily lubricated by water in the channel and trough, but no efiective lubrication of the bottom strand is possible.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, which illustrate a chain arrangement in accordance with the invention, the top strand 2| of the chain 22 runs in a channel 23 located in a trough 2l,-in the same manner as the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5. The bottom strand 25, however, also runs in a channel 26, guide plates 2? and 28 being provided to guide the pivoted lugs into the top and bottom channels. Lubrication of the contacting surfaces of the bottom strand is readily provided by running water into the channel 26. A comparison of Figures 4 and 6 will moreover indicate that the vertical space required for the arrangement shown in Figure 6 is somewhat ,less than that shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is illustrative of a practical embodiment of the invention as applied to a log storage or stock pile of a paper mill and adapted to replace the usual cable conveyor structure normally employed. In this instance, the top strand 29 of the chain 30 travels through the usual channel and trough and is located a considerable distance above the bottom strandtl, which returns by way of a tunnel 32 through the stock pile 33. The bottom strand rides in a channel 3 1, a guide plate 35 for the pivoted attachments being provided at one end thereof. Logs from the main yard of the mill may be fed into the feeding device 36, which may discharge a portion of the stock onto the conveyor and a portion direct to the mill. A portion of the bottom strand of the conveyor i located in-a trough 3?, into which a reclaimed part of the stock may be fed for conveyance and discharge onto a conveyor 38 for transportation to the mill. A shear 39 may be provided to ensure discharge ofthe stock.

It will be understood that many practical applications of the invention, other than those illustrated by way of example, are possible.

There has thus been provided a conveyor structure wherein expensive supports, such as idler sprockets, shafts, bearings and the like, for the bottom strand, are eliminated, wherein efiective lubrication of the bottomstrand is possible, wherein useful work may be performed by the incoming strand, wherein less'fspace is required These surfaces will normally be the chain 4 therefor and wherein a greater measure of safety for operators is provided.

It will be appreciated that various changes in details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A conveyor attachment for a chain having a plurality of links comprising a plate having plane lateral edges, a stock engaging extremity at one end thereof of considerably greater height than that of said links, a pin-engaging arcuate slot adjacent said end and extending from a point spaced from one of said lateral edges to a point equidistantly spaced from the other lateral edge, and a pin-receiving circular opening adjacent the other end thereof.

2. A conveyor attachment for a chain having a plurality of links comprising a generally triangular plate of symmertical edge configuration and having plane lateral edges, a pin-receiving circular opening in one of the extremities thereof, and an arcuaue slot extending along and adjacent to the side of the plate opposite said extremity from a point spaced from one of said lateral edges to a point equidistantly spaced from the other lateral edge, said arcuate slot bein curved about a radius the center of which coincides with the center of the opening, the height of the side of the plate along which said slot extends being considerably greater than the height of said links.

3. A chain conveyor comprising a chain having a plurality of links and connecting pins, and a plurality of conveying members each comprising a plate having one end pivotally mounted on one of said pins and the other end having limited sliding movement about another of said pins, said other end having a considerably greater height than the height of said links, said plate also having plane lateral edges one of which is substantially flush with the lower plane of a chain link at one limit of said sliding movement and the other of which is substantially flush with the upper plane of said chain link at the other limit of said sliding movement.

4. A chain conveyor comprising a chain having a plurality of links and connecting pins, and a plurality of conveying attachments each comprising a substantially triangular plate pivotally mounted adjacent one of its extremities on one of said pins and having an arcuate slot extending along and adjacent to the edge of the plate opposite said extremity to points equidistantly spaced from the other two edges of the plate, the height of the side of the plate along which the slot extends being considerably greater than the heightof said links, said slot bein slidably engaged by another of said pins, the distance between the axes of the pins being equal to the pitch of the chain.

5. Conveyor apparatus comprising an endless chain having a plurality of conveying lugs each having one end pivotally mounted thereon, a plurality of pins carried by the chain and each ongaging portions of the other end of a lug to limit the pivotal movement thereof, said other ends of the lugs being of considerably greater height than the height of the chain, supporting channels for the top and bottom strands of said chain, said channels each having a fiat surface supporting the lower surface of the chain and being adapted to maintain the lugs in upwardly projecting relation to the chain, said lugs having a fiat edge flush with the lower surface of the chain onenga'gement thereof with the fiat surface of either channel, and a guide plate for swinging the lugs about their pivots and guiding them into the bottom strand supporting channel.

6. A chain conveyor comprising an endless chain having a plurality of links and connecting pins, channels for the upper and lower strands of the chain and having flat surfaces engageable by the links, and a plurality of conveying attachments each comprising asubstantially triangular plate pivotally mounted adjacent one of its extremities on one of said pins and having an arcuate slot extending along and adjacent to the edge of the plate opposite said extremity to points equidistantly spaced from the other two edges of the plate, the height of the side of the plate along which the slot extends being considerably greater than the height of said links, said slot being slidably engaged by another of the pins, said plate being free from chain tension, said other two edges of the plate being successively engageable by said flat surfaces, each of said other two edges being flush with the lower surface of the chain when in engagement with a fiat surface.

JELL FREDERICK WRANGELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 707,200 Bollinger -1 Aug. 19, 1902 1,297,723 Parker Mar. 18, 1919 2,182,443 McAninch Dec. 5, 1939 2,286,666 Briggs June 16, 1942 

